SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022
PAGE 1B
Brought to you by American Simbrah Breeders
Cattle that work, work for Filegonia Cattle Company By Deanna Nelson-Licking
Filegonia annually markets about 30 SimGenetic bulls, including several Simbrahs. Between Temple and Waco, Texas, Joe and Beth Mercer of Filegonia Cattle Company raise Simbrah cattle and have been doing so since 1991. “In addition to purebred Simbrah, we breed composite animals, crossing Simbrah with Brangus or red or black SimAngus™ which makes what the American Simmental Association (ASA) has trademarked as SimAngusHT™,” said Beth, who is the driving force behind their cattle program. “We have two calving seasons and run about 100 to 120 cows plus replacement females. We are limited by the number of acres we have and what I can handle. A longtime friend and cowboy, Robert Deleon Assists us, but I do much of the work myself. Joe retired from farming last year but he has been, and is the fencer, mechanic and is also available to help with working cattle.” The couple established their cattle operation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of
Texas in 1991 with the purchase of 16 open Brahman cross and Red Brangus heifers and has evolved into one of the primary sources of performance tested Simbrah and composite Simbrah genetics. “We concentrate Beth Mercer Joe Mercer on identifying cattle in our own herd and Their calves are weaned at ation. They parin utilizing genetics from the home for 45 days and back- ticipate annually herds of other progressive grounded before sending the in the ASA Steer breeders that combine bal- ones selected to stay as bulls Feedout conanced growth and maternal off for development. The ducted at Graham traits with above average car- steers are shipped to a feed- Feedyards in cass data,” she said. lot and the heifers are kept Gonzales, Texas. The couple also owned at home. The Mercers retain Beth ex- Sunrise at Filegonia Cattle Company and young Simbrah heifers. and operated a utility con- ownership of their steers all plained, “We prostruction business. In 2008, the way through from ranch duce Simmental, Filegonia’s objective ciency. These are characteriswith Joe’s parents needing to rail so they review car- Simbrah, SimAngus™, and has always been to produce tics that they strive for in their help, they closed the busi- cass data and see if anything SimAngusHT™ cattle with top quality Simbrah cattle, cattle. ness and moved to the roll- needs changing in the genet- the commercial cattleman’s both purebred and compos“We produce both red ing blackland hills of Central ics. They also believe in fully needs in mind. We place great ite, that combine the best of and black heat-adapted cattle Texas to be closer to them and testing all their bulls for just importance in those traits that all breeds involved includ- with Simmental influence. focus more on the cattle. about everything. Tissue, make our customers prof- ing Simmental, Brahman, We often have customers who “Leasing or establish- carcass, performance, DNA itable such as calving ease, Red Angus and Angus. They will come thinking they know ing pasture is the problem in and full reporting through the polling, color, disposition, focus on improving fertility, what they want, but after seeCentral Texas where we live ASA’s Total Herd Enrollment fertility, balanced growth and calving ease, growth, early ing the bulls will leave with now with urban sprawl,” Beth program are some of the milk EPDs, as well as above puberty, excellent carcass something completely differ(Continued on page 2B) said. tools they use in their oper- average carcass potential,” potential and high feed effi-